Radio loud speaker



Octf 1'3," 1931. c. H. DUFFY RADIO LOUD SPEAKER Filed Oct. 8 1930 I I I I I I I l I Patented Oct. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES CHARLES HUGH DUFFY, on FLORIDA RADIO LOUD -SPlilia Application med october 8, 1930. serial No. 487,211.

(GRANTED UNDER THE Aer or MARGH e, lesa, as 'AMENDED-Amir. so', 1953s; 370 0. e. 75"?) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to radio loud speakers and the like, and has for its object to improve the physical appearance of the same so as to render the speaker more appealing to the eye.

In the design and construction of radio loud speakers, attention, for the most part, has been directed to improvements in their tonal qualities, while the esthetic and artistic characteristics have generally1 received little consideration.

While the ability of a radio loud speaker to faithfully reproduce sound is always of primary importance, I have found that this most important characteristic can be combined in a structure of high artistic value andV striking eye-appeal.

The inventive. purpose of this invention is to create the definite optical effect of two glowing columns in the opaque front of the speaker cabinet.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the in vention:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a radio cabinet with speaker installed in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a Vertical sectional view through the same, and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures, in which:

l indicates a radio cabinet, 2 is the receiver, and 3 is the diaphragm of the loud speaker disposed in an opening in the opaque front of the cabinet. The diaphragm 3 is preferably of roll formation constructed of two membranes 4 and 5 secured at their edge portions 6 and flexed in quarter-circle formation so that the side edges of the two membranes lie at right angles to the plane of the central meeting edge portions thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. While this example of the diaphragm structure is preferred, any roll formation which lends itself to the accomplishment-of theinventive purpose may be employed.

The diaphragm is made of a suitable transl whentlie curreirtto the receiver' is turned on, though obviously-they may be fed from' .a separate source of current such as by. an electric batteryV v Having-thus .described the several parts of theinventionitsoperation is as follows:

lVlien thefreceiver is at rest, the diaphragm 3 presents: only itsusual physical appearance.

As soon, however,.as.the current isturnedlon to the receiver-2,th e electric light or lights behind the transparent vor translucent dia- Iphragrn` become .lighted and, if colored,

cause the preferably frosted Idiaplaragm to -tlakfe on 'a aofi-.,-coloredglomwhieh glo-w continues as len'g as thereceiv'erisin operation v and' stops whenr ,the current tothe reeeiveris TheeffectA Asoft .glowing diaphragm is 'extremely pleasing andv attractive and lends .a warmth and livelyartistic effect whichpar ticularl-y appeals'to the esthetic sense.-

This is exceptionally striking when the transparent-or translucent diaphragm' is fiexed-irritlije form. show-n in the ,eXample .illustrated the drawings, The lightsand shadowsoreate .thaeffeet of two softly glowing oylindeI-S or columns the opaque from ...of thecabnet.

` Havingfthusfully C what f aina gasnew. and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A sound reproducing system for radio loud speakers or the like, including a cabinet having an opaque front, the front of the cabinet having an opening therein, a diaphragm of translucent material arranged at the said opening in the opaque front of the cabinet, the translucent diaphragm being flexed into two roll formations having meeting portions centrally ofthe said opening, and a source of light within the cabinet and disposed to cast its rays upon the diaphragm to illuminate the two rolled formations of-the diaphragm to cause the same to appear in the form of two glowing columns within the said opening in the opaque front of the cabinet.

2. A sound reproducing system for radio loud speakers or the like, including a cabinet having an opaque front, the front of the cabinet having an opening therein, a diaphragm of translucent celluloid arranged in the said opening in the opaque front of the cabinet, the translucent diaphragm being flexed into two roll formations having meeting portions centrally of the said opening, and a source of light within the cabinet and disposed behind the central meeting portions of the diaphragm toilluminate the two roll 25 formations of the diaphragm to cause the same to appear through the said opening in the opaque front of the cabinet in the form of two glowing columns.

3, A sound reproducing system for radio 39 loud speakers or the like, including a cabinet 'rg having an opaque front, the front of the cabinet having an opening therein, a diaphragm of translucent material arranged at the said opening in the opaque front of the D cabinet, the translucent diaphragm being A :is

flexed into two roll formations having meeting portions centrally of the said opening and a source of light within the cabinet and disposed behind the central meeting portions of 40 the diaphragm to illuminate the two roll formations of the diaphragm to cause the same to appear through the said opening in the opaquefront of the Acabinet in the form of two'glowing columns. 45 4. 'Aqs'ound reproducing system for radio loud speakers or'the like-,including a cabinet having anopaque front, the "front of the cabinet having an opening therein, a. diaphragm of translucent -celluloid arranged at 5o the 'said opening in the opaque front of the ,.g

cabinet, the translucent diaphragm being ileXed into two', roll formations having meeting portionsjc'entrally of the said opening, and a 'source of light within the cabinet and l l disposed to cast its rays upon the diaphragm to illuminate the two roll formations of the diaphragm to cause the same to appear in the lform of two glowing columns within' the said opening in the opaque front of the' cabinet. y In testimony whereof I aiix bysignature. A CHARLES HUGH DUFFY, 

